There is growing interest in biofuels in aviation, with both Air Canada and Boeing utilizing a biofuel made from used cooking oilâ€”combined with conventional jet fuelâ€”to power some of the first less-polluting flights. But researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have come up with an alternative made from a common black fungus found in rotting

There is growing interest in biofuels in aviation, with both Air Canada and Boeing utilizing a biofuel made from used cooking oilâ€”combined with conventional jet fuelâ€”to power some of the first less-polluting flights. But researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have come up with an alternative made from a common black fungus found in rotting leaves and fruitâ€”and they hope that it will lead them to an economically viable aviation biofuel within the next five years.

Scientists have been interested in the potential ofÂ using fungi to produce biofuels for quite some timeâ€”they are both a keyÂ producer of enzymes necessary for converting biomass to sugars, and can produceÂ hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are the chief component of petroleum, and byÂ using a particular fungusâ€”Aspergillus carbonarius ITEM 5010â€”a team from the Bio
products, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory at WSU were able to createÂ hydrocarbons that more closely resemble the hydrocarbons found in standard jetÂ fuel than other biofuel sources, such as ethanol.

The team, led by Professor Birgitte Ahring, fed theÂ fungi a combination of oatmeal, wheat straw and the non-edible leftovers of
corn production to stimulate the production of hydrocarbons. Ahring believesÂ that the resulting increased hydrocarbon production occurs â€œas a protectiveÂ mechanismâ€ against invading bacteria. Now the team will work to increase thisÂ hydrocarbon production and improve biochemical pathways through genetic mutation.Â And, if all goes well, we should see an affordable aviation biofuel in the nextÂ five years. As Ahring explained in a statement â€œItâ€™s very promisingâ€¦ I thinkÂ that the fungus-based fuels are something that is going to happen. Itâ€™s aÂ tremendous opportunity.â€